Ziggy1
New Kit
My bunny Ziggy had her hind leg amputated five days ago after getting a tumor on her leg. But she still can't walk - unless helped and held up manually. As soon as I let her go, she flops on the floor and sort of roles onto her stump with her remaining back leg sticking out and front legs splayed out on the other side to keep her balance. So she has her back legs facing a different direction to her front legs.
When she tries to walk, she just sort of drags herself along over her stump instead of hopping on her remaining back leg. I have tried to realign her body so she realises how she needs to align her body. I've also been trying to guide her body by encouraging her to hop and guiding her so she knows how to position her body. And she does hop when heavily guided but she doesn't seem to be able to centre the remaining leg or roll her weight onto it on her own.
So it's been five days and since the op, and she still can't walk.
The vet has said we need to start thinking about euthanasia (which would be heartbreaking) but I just wanted to check if anyone has any tips or advice about how long it could take her to learn to walk. She is 8-years-old so it may take her a bit longer than a younger bunny. (Although she was still very spritely before the op).
She also has some other problems - the wound is seeping a bit and although she is eating, she isn't passing anything much. She is on all the meds and recover fluid, plus flax and peppermint tea, for gi stasis but not much is happening. I've been giving her tummy massages which she really enjoys.
She really perks up when I lift her body up from underneath with my hand and support her as she walks around but it's just so heartbreaking to see her flopping on the floor when she tries to walk /drag herself by herself.
Any tips and advice on bunny physio and helping her to walk with just one back leg would be great.
What is the quality of life like for wheelchair bunnies should we have to go down that route - or is it kinder to put her to sleep?
Thanks
When she tries to walk, she just sort of drags herself along over her stump instead of hopping on her remaining back leg. I have tried to realign her body so she realises how she needs to align her body. I've also been trying to guide her body by encouraging her to hop and guiding her so she knows how to position her body. And she does hop when heavily guided but she doesn't seem to be able to centre the remaining leg or roll her weight onto it on her own.
So it's been five days and since the op, and she still can't walk.
The vet has said we need to start thinking about euthanasia (which would be heartbreaking) but I just wanted to check if anyone has any tips or advice about how long it could take her to learn to walk. She is 8-years-old so it may take her a bit longer than a younger bunny. (Although she was still very spritely before the op).
She also has some other problems - the wound is seeping a bit and although she is eating, she isn't passing anything much. She is on all the meds and recover fluid, plus flax and peppermint tea, for gi stasis but not much is happening. I've been giving her tummy massages which she really enjoys.
She really perks up when I lift her body up from underneath with my hand and support her as she walks around but it's just so heartbreaking to see her flopping on the floor when she tries to walk /drag herself by herself.
Any tips and advice on bunny physio and helping her to walk with just one back leg would be great.
What is the quality of life like for wheelchair bunnies should we have to go down that route - or is it kinder to put her to sleep?
Thanks